Relatives of Mrs J or I Turnbull of Sparrow Hill 1880-1881 (General)

by rookancestrybest , United Kingdom, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 10:02 (5807 days ago)

I have a lovely letter from a Mrs I or J Turnbull which her relatives might find interesting. She lived at Sparrow Hill, Coleford. There's no date on it but I know that one of my relatives died as a child on Dec 31st 1877 and the letter refers to his grave. The gravestone was purchased on October 16th 1881 so the attached letter will have been written in 1880 or 1881. Incidentally the gravestone cost £1 and the person who made it was called Mr. Gwilliam. Excerpts:
"My dear friend..." she then apologises for not writing for a while because she has been ill for 5 weeks. "...I must say the doctors was very kind...they done all in their powers for me. - I have had poor little Ellie very ill with a bad mouth and throat but she is better..." "My dear friend you dear baby's grave I can not put any flowers on it til it is done up. Did your husband {letter?] with John Kees about the grass or shall I see about it and have it done up like my dear little Charly's - that is when I am able to walk up there. Clara took some daiseys and moss and put on the little graves on Friday last - my dear you may feel quite sure that I will look to a flower on your dear baby's grave the same as I do my own little darlings for I loved your child at least all of them you must give my love and kisses to them all but especially little David, dear little fellow, tell him I have thought about him times ..." "Yours Affectionate,
[J? or I ?]Turnbull.

This letter was treasured by my mother because it was written to her grandmother who had moved to Sheffield away from the Forest of Dean and whose child, William, had died before she moved. Her husband was already in Sheffield as I have a telegraph with a lock of the child's hair dated 31/12/1877 sending him the news. My great-grandparents loved Coleford and missed it and all their friends and relatives there, the Forest and in South Wales.